Hello!

I've recently moved to Zürich from abroad, and I'm looking into quickly ramping up my German. I already have a certified A1 level (from Goethe) and I'm looking into A2 level upwards. I've done a little bit of research of the schools around the Zürich area (only through my computer, though). I've seen some schools that are within my preference in terms of distance, as I live close to Oerlikon.

- WBK (Dubendorf)
- ILS Zürich
- Migros Oerlikon

Of these the ILS offers the level for 1800CHF, Migros for 2100CHF and WBK for 1500CHF. From the price point of view, the WBK seems natural choice for me and it is even closer to my workplace. The problem is that I have no references from this school, and very few people have spoken about it here on the EF. To those who have spoken about it, it is mainly due to KDE or naturalization tests. What about general language courses? Does anybody have any experience with those? How is the school? Additionally, what about the other two? Migros I've seen people speak about it from both ends of the spectrum (either quite good or bad), from ILS I have no idea as well.

Any recommendations apart from these three?

Thanks!

I have no experience with WBK, so can't help you there.

I took group classes at Migros when I was first in CH and it was fine. I found the experience very much dependent upon your classmates and their learning styles and abilities, and whether they bothered to do any homework. Many times we went over and over the same material because people hadn't done the work.

I took private lessons at ILS in Bern and was very happy with them. They also had a program where once a month all the students would meet for breakfast. Except with Covid I think that's not happening...

I'm doing a Gemeinde german course which is provided by WBK. I guess it goes exactly the same way as at other schools: it's as hood as the teacher you get. I'm overall satisfied, however the progress is a bit slow (hey it's an integration course at the end). The usual quality assurance methods are in place.

Hm.. Integration course, from the Gemeinde? Is that restrited to specific people or can anyone enroll on such Gemeinde courses? How's it in terms of pricing?

I got some poor experience with this school. Their intensive was by no mean intensive and was inconsistent (e.g. swapping teachers in the middle of the course, randomly adding people with inadequate language skills to a group in the middle of the course). That was also while their building was renovating, so it may be better now.
A better experience was with Hallo Deutschschule. It has both private lessons (a bit pricier than ILS, but not by a lot and no binding minimum) and groups (this is less expensive, e.g. 1470-1620 CHF per a full level).

Although it is further away (1 stop to HB by a train and a 15-min walk, or a 11th or 14th tram and 10-min walk, or 32nd trolley and a 2-min walk, or 15 minutes by bike, or about that by car - but good luck with parking, their slots are few and closely watched for by a grumpy meter maid).

IMO, if you are OK with online courses (and this is still the recommended best practice for group lesson AFAIK), then original Goethe Institute online courses are actually more affordable and they suit better for the Goethe test prep. On the negative - you won't learn any Schwiizertüütsch there and won't get any local peers as well, which is a thing to consider for integration.

Yes, it's restricted to people living in that gemeinde
Very favorable pricing and they provide childcare for free on site (Opfikon).

I use Atelier Roth via hybrid courses (ie the teacher is based, now, in the class room and undertakes the class via Zoom. You can either attend or join via Zoom).

https://www.languageatelier.com/

I have been very happy with the teaching and support after a complaint, when one of the students undertook to speak on my behalf and was totally dominating in class.

As said earlier, it depends on your teacher and class mates.

I'll check my Gemeinde then.. thanks